Rainbow Wahine knock off Nevada
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
A possible sneak peek at a Western Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament quarterfinal came down to the final minute yesterday as the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine held off Nevada, 59-51, at Lawlor Events Center.
Advertiser library photo • Nov. 19, 2000
The Rainbows (19-6, 12-4 WAC) trailed much of the first half in Reno, but broke ahead 44-34 inside eight minutes. The Wolf Pack (9-16, 6-10) cut it to 52-49 with less than two minutes left when Ashley Bastian hit consecutive 3-pointers.
Christen Roper had 15 points and 13 rebounds in last night's game.
Nevada stole the ball on Hawai'i's next possession, but threw it away. Moments later, UH senior Janka Gabrielova sank a 3-pointer with the shot clock running out.
The Pack never cut its deficit below four again as Gabrielova switched over to shut down Bastian and the Rainbow Wahine hit 4-of-6 free throws in the final minute. They were 14-of-18 in the game. Nevada attempted just seven free throws in its home gym, and was out-rebounded 49-23.
The Wolf Pack shot 35 percent in the first half and didn't have an offensive rebound, yet trailed just 25-23 because of a dozen Hawai'i turnovers. Michelle Gabriel came in to play point early in the second half and helped UH find its rhythm, while Christen Roper and Kim Willoughby dominated down low.
Willoughby scored eight of her 10 points in the final eight minutes. Roper had her fifth double-double, getting game highs in points (15) and rebounds (13).
"We wanted to take what they would give us and we found out we could go into Roper," UH coach Vince Goo said. "They weren't defending real hard over the top or fronting her, so we went into her and she finished. The guards did a good job of recognizing she was open and getting the ball in."
The Rainbow Wahine close the regular season at home, against UTEP Thursday and Boise State Saturday. UH is a half-game behind second-place Rice going into those games. The Owls' last game is Saturday against Tulsa.
Should the teams finish tied, Rice would get the No. 2 seed after sweeping the season series. Hawai'i would open the WAC Tournament against the No. 6 seed, which is currently Nevada. The Wolf Pack closes at SMU and sixth-ranked Louisiana Tech.
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OVER AND BACK: UH sophomore April Atuaia suffered a pulled left hamstring Saturday and was not able to play yesterday. Atuaia tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee a month ago and played again for the first time Thursday at Fresno. ... Hawai'i and Nevada played Sunday because Lawlor was being used for the state high school basketball championship Saturday. ... UH went 7-2 on the road this season. It leads the series with Nevada 15-2.
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